Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has denied claims that he said the southern region of Nigeria should produce the president in 2027.
Mr El-Rufai described the widely circulated report as false in a statement posted on X on Monday, saying he never made such remarks in any speech, media interview or on his verified social media platforms.
“My attention has been drawn to a trending fake news item alleging that I specified which region of the country should produce the president in 2027,” the former governor said.
“This claim is untrue, despite its virality. I did not make such a statement in any of my speeches, interviews or social media posts. I maintain verifiable social media platforms where I speak my mind and express my personal views directly.
“It is also wrong and improper to attribute to me opinion articles written by other authors, even when I share such articles on my platforms as contributions to the national conversation.
“These clarifications are crucial as we confront both irresponsible politicking and the deliberate misuse of social media for the spread of fake news.
“The wilful attribution to me of claims I did not make by fake news platforms is no justification for treating such platforms with any seriousness.”
El-Rufai urged media professionals and members of the public to verify information before publishing or sharing it, warning that society suffers when this responsibility is ignored.
“In this age of turmoil and falsehood, the obligation to verify information before posting or publishing has become more important than ever. In this instance, it appears that some senior editors ignored this duty.
“Society stands to lose when media leaders align with the most irresponsible actors on social media in what can only be described as the unedifying Olympics of fiction and fakery. Everyone must live up to their responsibility.
“I wish to reiterate that no views should be attributed to me unless I have explicitly expressed them on my official social media platforms or during interviews with reputable media organisations,” the statement added.
